Joe has been inspired by Mainers of all stripes who have stepped up to lend a helping hand to those most affected by this pandemic. One organization that readers of this blog will be familiar with, Maine Academy of Modern Music, is stepping up in a big way. MAMM, a local organization that aspires to provide Maine youth with the discipline, freedom, and guidance to appreciate the thrill of making contemporary music, instilling in them the power of self-expression. MAMM is dedicated to building leadership through the musical arts, and for a limited time this organization is offering free lessons to kids with an essential worker parent/caregiver. Sign up for guitar, piano, drums, voice, and more.

Joe offers his thanks to MAMM for setting a fine example for all Mainers who want to help their neighbors in this time of great need, and urges you to spread the word about this generous offer. Learn more about MAMM here and more about free lessons here.

Having been a personal injury attorney for over 40 years, Joe has seen too many lives ruined by dangerous driving. To raise awareness about this important issue, Joe holds the Arrive Alive Creative Contest each year for graduating high school seniors throughout Maine. Now in it's 16th year, seniors may enter by submitting a creative project that sends a message to their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving and/or distracted driving.

Past entries have included essays, poems, paintings, public service announcements, videos, original songs, t-shirts, board games, drawings and more. The more creative, the better! First place winners receive a new laptop computer, second and third place winners receive a new iPad, and everyone who enters wins fun prizes from the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein.

A complete set of rules and all past winners can be found at ArriveAliveCreativeContest.com. The deadline to enter this year's contest is in just 11 days. Joe encourages any and all high school seniors in Maine to submit an entry into the contest, and more importantly encourages everyone on the road to practice safe driving techniques.

                         Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

At this time when so many Mainers and Americans are in critical need of medical care, it's more important than ever that we Mainers step up and give blood. For anyone in Portland or the surrounding area, The American Red Cross of Maine has a wonderful facility on Forest Ave. Learn more about this wonderful organization here, and Joe hopes you consider helping out in this time of great need.

Joe hopes this post finds readers of this blog safe and secure. In these unsettling times, Joe is so appreciative of all the Mainers who have complied with Governor Mills' stay-safe-at-home order and done their part to protect the public health of the state. While none of our daily schedules look the same as they once did, Joe hopes you're able to take some time this week to reflect on the importance of preserving and protecting our state's natural resources, as this week we'll celebrate Earth Day. The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine had a wonderful event planned, which you can read about here, but given these unusual times Joe is suggesting an alternative event: a series of webinars hosted by the Maine Youth for Climate Justice Group. Learn more about this group here. Joe is sure the webinars will be informative and interesting. He thanks you again for your responsible behavior, and urges you to stay safe, Portland.

Today Joe is promoting an important local organization that lends a helping hand to the most vulnerable among us. Through These Doors (TTD), formerly Family Crisis Services, was founded in 1977 and is the domestic violence resource center that serves victims and survivors in Cumberland County, Maine. TTD provides safe and accessible services to all people affected by domestic violence regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender, age, primary language spoken, or immigration status. TTD provides a free 24/7 confidential helpline to assist people who are currently in abusive relationships, are seeking to leave an unsafe relationship, or are still struggling with a former partner.

Joe offers his thanks to the folks at this important organization, and urges anyone who may be able to benefit from TTD's services to reach out. You can learn more about TTD here.

In these unsettling times, here's a timely message: Full Plates, Full Potential is a coalition of community leaders, stakeholders and advocates working to end child hunger in Maine. Over the last five years, FPFP has awarded 164 grants totaling more than $320,000 across all sixteen counties, and worked with schools and community organizations to expand children’s access to meals — and they're just getting started.

As schools shut down during the COVID-19 emergency, around 80,000 Maine kids will struggle to access meals. Full Plates Full Potential has established an emergency fund to support any public school in Maine that closes due to the pandemic. These emergency funds will help schools pay for increased meals, packaging breakfast and lunch meals, transporting the food to eligible sites and more. If your school has closed, please apply. If you can help, please join Full Plates and donate today.

Joe applauds this wonderful coalition for the essential work they're doing in our community, and urges you to learn more about them here.

Today's tasty message promotes a group Joe has touted before: The Girl Scouts of Maine. The Girl Scouts seek to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Worldwide the Girl Scouts are  2.5 million strong—more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) to change the world. Girl Scout membership is open to any girl in grades K-12 who has made the Girl Scout Promise, accepts the Girl Scout Law, and pays annual membership dues.

As of this weekend, Girl Scout cookies are now on sale. When you buy a box of delicious Girl Scout Cookies, you’re powering amazing, year-round experiences for every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) extraordinaire in your community who sells them—that’s right, proceeds stay local and are reinvested in girls! Joe will be sure to eat his fair share of thin mints-- will you?

Learn more about the Girl Scouts of Maine here, and more about the delicious cookies here.

Joe was never much of a musician, but he can appreciate talent when he sees it. There's plenty of talent at Maine Academy of Modern Music, a local organization that aspires to provide Maine youth with the discipline, freedom, and guidance to appreciate the thrill of making contemporary music, instilling in them the power of self-expression. MAMM is dedicated to building leadership through the musical arts.

Each March as part of Women's History Month, MAMM hosts its annual Girls Rock! concert. The event is a celebration of girls' involvement in music and will showcase the talents of MAMM's students who will be performing a combination of solo and full band sets. This year's Girls Rock! show returns to Port City Music Hall tonight, March 7th.

Learn more about MAMM here and more about Girls Rock! here.

                    Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.